Equations and graphs of motion
A story: "you leave home at a steady pace, speed up when you realise you are late, and slow down at the entrance". That story can be drawn without a single word, using a graph. And from a graph — of position, velocity or acceleration — you can read what type of motion there is in each stage, without knowing the equation beforehand.
x-t graph: the gradient is the velocity
A stopwatch times two athletes: one covers $10\ \text{m}$ every $2\ \text{s}$ and the other $18\ \text{m}$ in the same interval. How can we compare at a glance, on a pair of coordinate axes, who is moving faster?
On the $x(t)$ graph, look at how steep the line is; on the $v(t)$ graph, check that it is a horizontal line, because the velocity does not change.
The $x$-$t$ graph of a moving object is a horizontal line at $x = 5\ \text{m}$ for $10\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure. a) What is the state of the object during…
The $x$-$t$ graph of a moving object is a horizontal line at $x = 5\ \text{m}$ for $10\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure.
- a) What is the state of the object during this time?
- b) What is its velocity? Justify your answer using the gradient of the graph.
The $x$-$t$ graph of a pedestrian is a straight line passing through the points $(0, 2)$ and $(4, 10)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.…
The $x$-$t$ graph of a pedestrian is a straight line passing through the points $(0, 2)$ and $(4, 10)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.
- a) Calculate the gradient of the line and state what physical quantity it represents.
- b) Write the position equation for the pedestrian.
A classmate shows you two $x$-$t$ graphs: in the first, the position increases along a sloped straight line; in the second, the position increases along a curve that…
A classmate shows you two $x$-$t$ graphs: in the first, the position increases along a sloped straight line; in the second, the position increases along a curve that gets steeper and steeper. They are shown in the figure.
- a) Which one corresponds to uniform motion and which to accelerated motion?
- b) Explain what happens to the velocity in each case.
v-t graph: the gradient is the acceleration
Two vehicles show $90\ \text{km/h}$ on their dashboards: one is travelling in a straight line at a fixed velocity and the other has just put its foot down to overtake. How do we show in a graph the difference between maintaining velocity and gaining it second by second?
Since $a \neq 0$, the $v(t)$ graph is no longer horizontal: it is a sloping line, and the $x(t)$ graph curves.
The $v$-$t$ graph of a cyclist is a horizontal line at $v = 6\ \text{m/s}$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 5\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure. a) What type of motion does it…
The $v$-$t$ graph of a cyclist is a horizontal line at $v = 6\ \text{m/s}$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 5\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure.
- a) What type of motion does it describe?
- b) Calculate the distance travelled using the area under the graph.
The $v$-$t$ graph of a car is a straight line joining the points $(0, 0)$ and $(4, 12)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure. a)…
The $v$-$t$ graph of a car is a straight line joining the points $(0, 0)$ and $(4, 12)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.
- a) Calculate the gradient of the line and state what physical quantity it represents.
- b) What is its value along with its unit?
The $v$-$t$ graph of a car is a straight line joining the points $(0, 20)$ and $(5, 0)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure. a) Is…
The $v$-$t$ graph of a car is a straight line joining the points $(0, 20)$ and $(5, 0)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.
- a) Is the car accelerating or braking? Justify your answer.
- b) Calculate its acceleration from the gradient.
Signed area: displacement; absolute areas: distance
If $v<0$, the area contributes a negative displacement. For the distance, add the absolute values of the areas, separating the stages in which the sign of $v$ changes. For example, $v=4\ \text{m/s}$ for $3\ \text{s}$ and $v=-2\ \text{m/s}$ for $2\ \text{s}$ give $\Delta x=12-4=8\ \text{m}$, but $d=12+4=16\ \text{m}$. In the following examples the velocities are positive, which is why distance and displacement coincide.
The $v$-$t$ graph of a car has three sections: from $(0, 0)$ to $(10, 20)$, from $(10, 20)$ to $(30, 20)$, and from $(30, 20)$ to $(40, 0)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and…
The $v$-$t$ graph of a car has three sections: from $(0, 0)$ to $(10, 20)$, from $(10, 20)$ to $(30, 20)$, and from $(30, 20)$ to $(40, 0)$, with $v$ in $\text{m/s}$ and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.
- a) Calculate the acceleration for each section.
- b) Calculate the distance travelled in each section using the areas (triangles and rectangle) under the graph.
- c) What is the total distance?
The $v$-$t$ graph of a metro train between two stations is: it accelerates from $0$ to $15\ \text{m/s}$ in $30\ \text{s}$, maintains $15\ \text{m/s}$ for $60\ \text{s}$…
The $v$-$t$ graph of a metro train between two stations is: it accelerates from $0$ to $15\ \text{m/s}$ in $30\ \text{s}$, maintains $15\ \text{m/s}$ for $60\ \text{s}$ and brakes to a stop at $15\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure.
- a) Calculate the acceleration for each section.
- b) Calculate the distance of each section and the total distance between the stations.
- c) Calculate the average speed for the journey, rounded to one decimal place.
a-t graph: the area is the change in velocity
A train sets off with its accelerometer fixed at $0{,}8\ \text{m/s}^2$ for $20\ \text{s}$ and then the acceleration drops to zero. How do we work out the final velocity reached from the drawing of its acceleration against time?
The $a$-$t$ graph of a moving object is a horizontal line at $a = 2\ \text{m/s}^2$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 6\ \text{s}$, as shown in the figure. If the object starts from…
The $a$-$t$ graph of a moving object is a horizontal line at $a = 2\ \text{m/s}^2$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 6\ \text{s}$, as shown in the figure.
If the object starts from rest, calculate its velocity after $6\ \text{s}$ using the area under the $a$-$t$ graph.
The $a$-$t$ graph of an object starting from rest is: $a = 3\ \text{m/s}^2$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 4\ \text{s}$, and $a = 0$ from $t = 4\ \text{s}$ to $t = 10\ \text{s}$.…
The $a$-$t$ graph of an object starting from rest is: $a = 3\ \text{m/s}^2$ from $t = 0$ to $t = 4\ \text{s}$, and $a = 0$ from $t = 4\ \text{s}$ to $t = 10\ \text{s}$. It is shown in the figure.
- a) Calculate the velocity at $4\ \text{s}$ using the area under the $a$-$t$ graph.
- b) What is its velocity at $10\ \text{s}$? Justify your answer.
- c) Draw the corresponding $v$-$t$ graph in your notebook.
You can do it on paper and send a photo with your answer.
Combined stages: rest, uniform motion and uniformly accelerated motion on one graph
The $x$-$t$ graph of a walking trip has three straight sections: from $(0, 0)$ to $(10, 50)$, from $(10, 50)$ to $(15, 50)$, and from $(15, 50)$ to $(25, 0)$, with $x$…
The $x$-$t$ graph of a walking trip has three straight sections: from $(0, 0)$ to $(10, 50)$, from $(10, 50)$ to $(15, 50)$, and from $(15, 50)$ to $(25, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.
- a) Calculate the speed for each section.
- b) Interpret each section: what are the walkers doing in each one?
- c) How long does the entire trip last?
The $x$-$t$ graph of an object is a straight line connecting the points $(0, 50)$ and $(10, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure. a)…
The $x$-$t$ graph of an object is a straight line connecting the points $(0, 50)$ and $(10, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.
- a) Write its position equation.
- b) Explain what the initial position and the sign of the gradient mean.
- c) Calculate the position when $t = 14\ \text{s}$ and explain the physical meaning of it being negative.
- d) At what time is it at $x = -50\ \text{m}$?
The $x$-$t$ graph of a walk is: a straight line from $(0, 0)$ to $(4, 40)$ and another from $(4, 40)$ to $(8, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in…
The $x$-$t$ graph of a walk is: a straight line from $(0, 0)$ to $(4, 40)$ and another from $(4, 40)$ to $(8, 0)$, with $x$ in metres and $t$ in seconds. It is shown in the figure.
- a) Calculate the velocity for each section.
- b) Calculate the total distance travelled and the total displacement.
- c) Calculate the average velocity (displacement divided by time) and the average speed (distance divided by time).
- d) Explain why one of them comes out as zero and the other does not.
Working out the equation from data or from a graph
Measuring the position of a laboratory trolley gives these data: at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $x = 3\ \text{m}$; at $t = 1\ \text{s}$, $x = 5\ \text{m}$; at $t = 2\ \text{s}$,…
Measuring the position of a laboratory trolley gives these data: at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $x = 3\ \text{m}$; at $t = 1\ \text{s}$, $x = 5\ \text{m}$; at $t = 2\ \text{s}$, $x = 7\ \text{m}$; at $t = 3\ \text{s}$, $x = 9\ \text{m}$.
- a) Plot the points on a $x$-$t$ graph in your notebook and check that they lie on a straight line.
- b) Deduce the position equation for the trolley.
- c) Predict its position when $t = 10\ \text{s}$.
You can do it on paper and send a photo with your answer.
The position of a moving object, in SI units, is $x = 10 - 3 \cdot t$. a) Calculate its position at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $t = 1\ \text{s}$ and $t = 2\ \text{s}$. b)…
The position of a moving object, in SI units, is $x = 10 - 3 \cdot t$.
- a) Calculate its position at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $t = 1\ \text{s}$ and $t = 2\ \text{s}$.
- b) Describe the $x$-$t$ graph: is it sloping upwards or downwards? What does the negative gradient indicate?
- c) Calculate the time at which it passes through the origin, rounding to one decimal place.
Measuring the position of a trolley going down an inclined plane gives: at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $x = 0\ \text{m}$; at $t = 1\ \text{s}$, $x = 1\ \text{m}$; at…
Measuring the position of a trolley going down an inclined plane gives: at $t = 0\ \text{s}$, $x = 0\ \text{m}$; at $t = 1\ \text{s}$, $x = 1\ \text{m}$; at $t = 2\ \text{s}$, $x = 4\ \text{m}$; at $t = 3\ \text{s}$, $x = 9\ \text{m}$.
- a) Verify that the data satisfy the relation $x = t^2$ and, by comparing it with $x = \frac{1}{2} a \cdot t^2$, deduce the acceleration of the trolley.
- b) Predict its position when $t = 5\ \text{s}$.
- c) Calculate how far it moves in each second ($0$-$1\ \text{s}$, $1$-$2\ \text{s}$, $2$-$3\ \text{s}$) and explain, from these values, why the $x$-$t$ graph is a curve and not a straight line.
Investigating with data and estimating uncertainty
Put forward the hypothesis "the trolley keeps a constant velocity". Film a slow movement on a stable table, with a visible scale and a fixed camera perpendicular to the path. Share out the tasks of measuring, recording and checking; do not film faces or publish personal data. You can also export positions from a simulation, identifying them as simulated data.
In a spreadsheet, put $t$ in column A and $x$ in column B; in C3 type =(B3-B2)/(A3-A2) and copy it downwards. Plot the x-t points, fit a straight line and check the differences between the measurements and the prediction. State the units, resolution, repetitions and possible systematic errors. The relative uncertainty of $v=(0,29\pm0,02)\ \text{m/s}$ is approximately $0,02/0,29\cdot100=7\%$; it is not a known true error.
Check your interpretation against a source identified by author, date and procedure. Present the data, the conclusion and the limitations; a discordant point is investigated, not deleted to improve the fit.
Now test the model and compare it with your data:
Back to the beginning: on a $v$-$t$ graph, walking at a steady pace is drawn as a horizontal line, speeding up as a rising straight line and slowing down as a falling straight line until it touches the time axis ($v=0$).